Topic: IBM Getting More Work from Nintendo

[NWR_Lindy]

The Big N and Big Blue look like they're going to be collaborating again.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19137

 In late July, workers at the IBM office in East Fishkill, New York were called to an all-hands meeting.  This meeting was to announce a new slate of work from Nintendo's Systems and Technology Group, among others.  No indication was made as to the nature of the work involved, and apparently no new workers will be hired for this project.    

IBM has worked closely with Nintendo in the past, with both the GameCube and Wii CPUs based on IBM's jointly-developed PowerPC architecture.

[broodwars]

I'm surprised it took them this long to put together a team to work on components for the next-generation Nintendo hardware, honestly.  You'd think by now the Wii and DS's true successors would be approaching the middle-to-late stage of development.  Of course, we don't know for a fact that's what IBM's getting contracted to work on, but it's a pretty safe assumption.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I'll bet that all they are doing is reinstating the chips that IBM had originally planned for Wii before Nintendo made them shelve it and overclock the GC instead.

It was a good call on Nintendos part since Sony & MS were pushing the tech to far too fast (see developers cost sky rocketing by using bleeding edge graphic tech). It also make Next generation R&D much cheaper since, well, its already been done & the cost of achieveing what they want(360/PS3+ level) is already cheap, and getting cheaper.

[KDR_11k]

I'm surprised it took them this long to put together a team to work on components for the next-generation Nintendo hardware, honestly.  You'd think by now the Wii and DS's true successors would be approaching the middle-to-late stage of development.  Of course, we don't know for a fact that's what IBM's getting contracted to work on, but it's a pretty safe assumption.

I don't think the DS uses any IBM components and I doubt a DS successor would either.

[Plugabugz]

I would love to know if next-gen is going to follow the tradition of each console being smaller than its predecessor. Wii is practically pushing it close so i would love to know how it's going to turn out size wise.

[Stogi]

I bet they are discussing the technical and business liabilities of returning to cartridges.

[Dirk Temporo]

You'd think by now the Wii and DS's true successors would be approaching the middle-to-late stage of development.

LOL

Tell me, they have two systems out which are completely owning all the other systems in their category. Why would they even be THINKING about releasing new systems anytime soon?

[BlackNMild2k1]

In the past, as soon as the current system is finalized, R&D starts on the next system. Why would that change this time?

[GoldenPhoenix]

In the past, as soon as the current system is finalized, R&D starts on the next system. Why would that change this time?

Supposedly from what I understand Nintendo has been pouring massive amounts of R&D money into something (or somethings) even more so then with Wii.

[Stogi]

That makes sense.

They started the slope, and now they need to pay hefty to slide down it....if they want to succeed that is.

[BlackNMild2k1]

In the past, as soon as the current system is finalized, R&D starts on the next system. Why would that change this time?

Supposedly from what I understand Nintendo has been pouring massive amounts of R&D money into something (or somethings) even more so then with Wii.

Exactly, but my post was in response to:

You'd think by now the Wii and DS's true successors would be approaching the middle-to-late stage of development.

LOL

Tell me, they have two systems out which are completely owning all the other systems in their category. Why would they even be THINKING about releasing new systems anytime soon?

Nintendo is always THINKING about what it is going to do next, that is why it starts R&D for the next system immediately after finalizing the current system.

And I think that whatever Nintendo has planned for the next system better be really good, because Sony & MS are gonna try to replicate everything that Nintendo did right this time around while also staying ahead of the curve graphically.

[ThePerm]

it begins!!! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

[broodwars]

In the past, as soon as the current system is finalized, R&D starts on the next system. Why would that change this time?

Supposedly from what I understand Nintendo has been pouring massive amounts of R&D money into something (or somethings) even more so then with Wii.

Exactly, but my post was in response to:

You'd think by now the Wii and DS's true successors would be approaching the middle-to-late stage of development.

LOL

Tell me, they have two systems out which are completely owning all the other systems in their category. Why would they even be THINKING about releasing new systems anytime soon?

Nintendo is always THINKING about what it is going to do next, that is why it starts R&D for the next system immediately after finalizing the current system.

And I think that whatever Nintendo has planned for the next system better be really good, because Sony & MS are gonna try to replicate everything that Nintendo did right this time around while also staying ahead of the curve graphically.

Exactly.  Nintendo always has to be planning for the future, which means doing R&D on the Wii/DS's successors while those platforms are still performing well and bringing in the cash that funds such work.  This ensures that by the time the Wii and DS are in their declining years, the next generation of hardware is ready to go.  Pretty simple, actually, and frankly common sense.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Coming up with the next product and deciding when to unleash it are different topics.

I LOL alongside Dirk on this.  Wii/DS are on the 10-year plan to pancake this industry into submission.  3rd parties, prepare your bankruptcy statements.

[Plugabugz]

3rd parties, prepare your bankruptcy statements.

"I have no money. You win."?

[BlackNMild2k1]

Maybe Nintendo will start handing out "Bail Out/Stimulus" loans with exclusivity agreements attached to it.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Fat chance.  Market prosperity and customers have to be earned.

[Dirk Temporo]

Yeah, R&D doesn't mean that they are or even should be "almost done" by now. They have literally zero incentive to release a new console, and all incentive to take their time with the new machine.

[BwrJim!]

the official statement will be something like this from the nintendo pr spin.

"We here at Nintendo are always looking to innovate and create new mediums for which we can deliver our ideas."

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

That's a good statement.  It distracts people from the fact that Nintendo execs spend their work days swimming in pools of money.

[EasyCure]

Man i wish i was a nintendo exec. I love swimming, but i dont always like to get wet.. swimming in money would solve that problem.

[Stogi]

Nintendo exec. don't swim in money. They build miniature cities made of money and tear them down Godzilla style.

[KDR_11k]

They build blocks that can be suspended from the ceiling, fill them with money and paint a question mark on them, then punch them from below until the money flies out.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

That would be great for a Nintendo-themed live game show.

[Stogi]

Nintendo exec. don't swim in money. They ski down hills of it.